Samuel Hunt co-founder of MaterialsMarket.com, urges construction leaders to look out for common causes of burnout and address it at the earliest opportunity
Burnout continues to deeply impact workers across every industry with everyone needing to juggle more demands in life than ever before. Those in the construction industry are particularly susceptible to this as it’s a sector consisting of long hours, weekends, hard work and for many, hard, manual labour. To keep the construction sector thriving, leaders in all positions must ensure that they are on the lookout for the common causes of burnout and empower employees to safeguard themselves against it.
Burnout is an issue that can not only affect individuals but have a knock-on effect on entire companies. It has the potential to affect both health (mental or physical) and productivity at work, ultimately costing companies and industries dearly. This is why it is crucial to address burnout at the earliest opportunity.
Recognising the signs of burnout
Burnout can strike suddenly, so it’s important for tradespeople to be on the lookout for the signs. This can include a change in personality or an increase in unhealthy coping mechanisms as stress starts to build. For instance, a shift of craving and eating more junk food, or an increase in smoking can indicate that burnout is building. Angry outbursts are another sign that someone is struggling to cope with a challenging environment or situation.
Recognising these signs for what they are can be key in nipping the issues in the bud – it’s far easier to insulate against greater burnout if it is addressed early. It’s important for everyone to check in with themselves and each other as daily pressures mount across the board.
Low margins, high competition
Anyone connected to the construction sector will know that due to low margins and the homogenisation of products and services, the industry is increasingly competitive and this can put pressure on everyone involved, from buyers to sales teams.
However, these pressures can give good leaders the opportunity to shine, creating a culture of excellence across the board. There are few industries where workers can feel like everything they do truly matters, but construction remains one of them. Reminding teams that everything they do impacts the final product and motivated leaders can help everyone on the job site feel proud of the work they do.
This culture will also help teams focus on creating highly valued, finished products. Because these pressures impact everyone in the industry, it’s possible to create a culture that focuses on the value given to the customer – and a finished product that every employee can be proud of.
Low margins can mean that any mistakes on the job can cut into razor-thin profit margins, so it benefits everyone to create a workplace that values precision over extreme speed. Camaraderie amongst tradespeople working on the same team is essential for ensuring that the work is done with care and can also help solidify the bonds between workers. A well-led, well-run team atmosphere can also help reduce the sense of isolation that burnout feeds from, so this tactic can help fight it on two fronts.
Routines and reaching out
The construction sector is a trade that can cause upheaval to lifestyles, with construction sites often opening very early and at times, closing late. This commonly causes tradespeople to often work unsociable hours meaning that they can find themselves feeling a bit lost and disconnected from their friends, family and communities. Working these non-standard hours can not only contribute to the feeling of burnout but also means an individual may have fewer resources or support when it comes to combating the causes of burnout.
As in any industry with business hours outside the normal nine to five, it’s important for workers to develop strong routines and habits. For many people, having these predictable hours – even if they are outside the norm – can provide benefits that far outweigh the negatives. Additionally, the development of routines that include time with family can provide the perfect antidote to the pressures of burnout.
A prime example of this is utilising the fact that construction sites have strict closing times to your advantage (meaning that there is no risk of being stuck in the office/on the site until 9pm!). Individuals can benefit from keeping these boundaries and building time for deeper connection around it. A better work-life balance could mean more time spent with a significant other, or spending quality time with children.
Loss of sleep can be another prominent issue for workers who are attempting to cope with the feelings of burnout. For those who struggle with the early mornings, a routine that includes an easily accessible, natural sleep aid like valerian root tea might help workers get enough sleep. Not only will this help maintain adequate sleep, but it can help add in a bit of daily wind-down time, something that provides everyone with solace from the stress and strains of everyday life.
Finally, more and more resources have moved online, meaning that there are more self-serve digital options for tradespeople to access at times that work for them. There are a plethora of tools available on-demand at little or no cost, from guided meditations to yoga to mindfulness exercises. Including these in a daily routine – or adding them in during those particularly stressful times – can increase overall wellness and help create a sense of personal calm in a very hectic world. While it might seem easy to discount the worth of these methods, they are used in many high-stress jobs throughout the world – even US Navy Seals use breathing techniques to help cope with the stress they encounter!
If tradespeople are finding their schedules are a barrier to participating in or picking up hobbies, there are online communities and learning tools available. Look no further than YouTube or your favourite social media site and you’ll see a whole selection of people showing off cooking tips, musical lessons, language starters, and DIY hacks. Forums to discuss hobbies are plentiful and can provide a welcome break from stress. Picking up a new skill can not only help combat the exhaustion caused by burnout but also foster connection to others – key for everyone hoping to get through the trials of a high-pressure job.
For those who find themselves in greater need, there are even round-the-clock chat-based counselling services meaning that there’s no need to fight for an appointment time in an already cramped daily schedule.
Workplace health and safety
There’s no denying that the construction sector can be a dangerous one, and the fear of experiencing a workplace accident is very present for a lot of tradespeople.
While this worry is valid and can create a lot of stress, it’s helpful to recognise that workplace fatalities in the UK construction industry in 2020/21 were lower than in the previous year*. Hopefully, this statistic can provide some comfort to workers and this downward trend can help relieve the anxieties associated with this danger.
It’s important for tradespeople to care for themselves to help safeguard against these accidents – ensuring that all proper safety tools are used – can go a long way to making the sites safer for everyone. Regular discussion of safety practices and equipment is important, as is taking the time to slow down and make sure that everything is being done according to regulations, which are in place to help keep everyone safer.
In addition to helping to keep a clear head on a potentially dangerous job, practices like getting enough sleep, exercising, and eating well can contribute to overall wellness for workers. While something like the benefits of getting enough sleep might seem obvious to people, the benefits of exercise are often overlooked.
Construction is often full of very physically demanding roles, most may assume that they are getting enough exercise and even feel too tired for more physical activity. The reality is that the work is often very repetitive and can create substantial strain on the body and regular exercise can help strengthen muscles and guard against injury on the job site. Exercise also has the benefit of releasing feel-good endorphins throughout the body and helps create greater self-awareness of what someone’s physical capacity is – a key step in avoiding injury.
Workplace culture
Workplace culture is also a key part of managing burnout in this area. Mental health first aid training for construction workers – which empowers people to spot the signs of mental health struggles as well as teaching the tools for having hard discussions about taxing topics – can be extremely valuable for creating a workplace that actively combats burnout and provides assistance to those who need it, making work easier and more welcoming for those who might be feeling drained. Simply removing the silence around the topic can provide workers with more energy and motivation to address their own causes of burnout.
While burnout remains a serious concern for the construction industry, a well-managed team and dedicated tradespeople can use a multi-faceted approach to watching for and combating it with success. Addressing the silence around the topic, working as a team to manage it, and making sure that everyone feels empowered to maintain a good work-life balance go a long way in fostering a workplace that can be burnout-resistant for everyone.
*https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/pdf/fatalinjuries.pdf
